New AD hopes to take Firebirds to next level
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: News
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Kirtland Community College jump to the next level on the court or in the field, as well as in the classroom.
Douglas Ryckman, 51, of Houghton Lake took over the duties as the college's new athletic director in early October, replacing Houghton Lake alumna Teresa Stuck. Stuck also coached the Firebirds womens basketball team, but left KCC to pursue a professional basketball career in Denmark.
"When I was a student-athlete in high school, I would have loved the chance to play here," said the 6-6 Ryckman, who excelled at the forward/center position in both high school and collegiate basketball. "It wasn't available then. It's just a great opportunity for student-athletes in our area to stay close to home and play."
Living and working in northern Michigan is nothing new to Ryckman, who graduated from Kalkaska High School in 1973. As a member of the Blue Blazers boys basketball team, he was the first varsity hoopster in school history to earn all-state honors (first team, Class "C") and still stands as Kalkaska's all-time scoring leader after hitting for more than 1,500 points. The Blazers, who were then coached by Ryckman's brother, Jim, won a pair of Northern Lower Michigan League titles and two district championships.
The shots kept falling at LSSU, where Ryckman and his basketball teammates celebrated two conference championships and two trips to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City, Mo., during his four years at the Sault St. Marie campus. And that success, which included Ryckman earning his bachelor's degree in sports and recreation management, is something he now hopes to pass on to student-athletes participating in the five sports at Kirtland.
"At Lake Superior State University, as a student-athlete, I had a very positive experience," he said. "I want to make sure our student-athletes (at KCC) have those positive experiences."
Helping young people strive and reach their potential is also not a new experience for Ryckman, whose first job out of college was as a youth specialist at the Nokomis Challenge Center in Prudenville. In fact, coming
to KCC allowed for Ryckman to reunite with the Firebirds first-year cross country coach, Steve Seager, his former partner in Nokomis' wilderness program.
Ryckman has also served as the athletic director at Camp Lehman near Grayling and at the state correctional facility in Standish, helping to establish athletic programs at both stops.
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